Upstairs, Downstairs Theme (Tab)
May 31, 2009
Upstairs, Downstairs Theme (Tab)
I think I mentioned before, I don’t own a TV any more. But I might get a TV license anyway just to support the BBC’s new ukulele orchestra. One member of the group is Radio 4’s Kathy Clugston (from off of the shipping forecast) and she recorded a jazzy version of this tune and inspired me to knock up my own version.
I’ve taken more liberties with this tune than I usually do. There are a lot of strings swirling around in the original that needed simplifying. I’ve also slowed it down and given it a strong 3/4 feel. In other words, it bears very little relation to the original at all.
Jim’ll Fix It Theme (Chords)
May 24, 2009
Apologies to the majority of you who have probably never heard this song before, but after mentioning it the other day I couldn’t resist writing it up.
One thing to look out for in this is the two different versions of the C chord. In the original there’s a strong bass-line move from C to D to E. So I’ve emphasized the E note in the second C chord. You can use the traditional C chord. But the C’ chord does make the transition to Ab easier.
And check out the Musical Youth version for inspiration.
Sesame Street (Easy Chords)
May 17, 2009
Jayne left a comment on the original chords for Sesame Street suggesting an easy version of the chords. And, since it’s a song the kiddies might be interested in playing, I thought I’d go for it.
Suggested Strumming
For the first part you can use:
d – d u d – d u
For each chord until you get to G7. Then do just down strums for that. Back to the pattern for F7. Then just one down strum for the G7, Bb and F. After that you’re back to the pattern.
Muppets – Mahna Mahna
October 5, 2008
The Muppets Mahna Mahna (Tab)(PDF)
As great as Mahna Mahna is, I’ve never been able to forgive it for resulting in the worst record of all time: Vanilla No Way, No Way (but watching that on YouTube led me to remembering that Shapoo were bloody fantastic – so good truly can come from evil).
Still it’s a whole sack full of fun and great for lacing together lots of random songs. In my version, I played a bit of a solo that died a la the Muppet version and from there threw in any bit of music that took my fancy. I was just having fun with the track, so it’s jam packed full of mistakes.
A million cool points to anyone who can name all the tunes I quote.
Requested by Joe
Will Smith and Stefan Raab – Men in Black
September 14, 2008
The video of Will Smith singing Men in Black with Stefan Raab on the ukulele has been knocking around the net for quite a while, but there’s been a spate of people posting about it. No doubt one of the big boys posted about Men in Black on the ukulele and all the two-bit bloggers without a single original thought drifting around the cacophonous wasteland that they seem to think constitutes a brain decide to do a post about Men in Black on the ukulele. So here’s my post about Men in Black on the ukulele.
There are only two chords in it: C#m7 and F#7. When you’re strumming, keep a constant up, down rhythm but hold and release the chords to get some short chord strums along with plenty of funky clicking.
Requested by edi.
Happy Days Theme Tune
September 7, 2008
I thought this one would be completely straightforward, but it presented a few problems. I’m still not really sure about the ending.
In the chord sheet this one, you’ll notice a few letters in brackets. They’re not chords but single notes. So where it says “(A Ab)” you play just those notes on the G string.
When you have to change quickly from Bb or B to C, it’s easier to use the Bb chord shape moved up two frets rather than the open C chord.
I had to cheat the solo a little bit to get it to fit on the uke. I’ve tabbed it like this:
But I had shift each note in bar 3 up one notch on the major scale as there’s a Bb in the original. If you’re playing on a low-G uke, you could play it like this:
Whose Line Is It Anyway? – Hoedown
August 31, 2008
The song at the end of Whose Line Is It Anyway? is always the best part. Particularly the people who are heroically bad at it (Colin Mochrie). The Irish Drinking songs are always hilarious and chaotic. Unfortunately, that makes the funniest song ever useless for fitting chords around. So, I had to go with a Chip Esten verse for the song sheet.
I was debating whether to go with Hoedown or Irish Drinking Song until I realised they had exactly the same chorder* with the addition of the extra ‘ai-dee-die-de’ section. The Irish Drinking Song is in the key of D as opposed to G for Hoedown.
You can play the little intro part either as chords or, my preferred method, with a little finger picking:
*I’m changing Ukulala’s definition. I’m using it to mean a chord progression which is the same but in a different key. Since, if there’s a word for it, I can’t remember what it is.
John Williams – Olympic Fanfare
August 10, 2008
John Williams – Olympic Fanfare (Tab)
MIDI
How fantastic were those drummers at the start of the Opening Ceremony? It certainly topped a bunch of flag girls strolling around at the LA opening ceremony in 1984 (although no change in the commentators blabbering all over the music). But the LA opening ceremony did have the first performance of the Olympic Fanfare written by John Williams for the games.
Jeff had requested tab for the Olympic Anthem/Hymn and I gave it a go but couldn’t really get it to work on the uke. I don’t think it really has a strong enough tune. Which is something you certainly couldn’t say about the Olympic Fanfare. By the time of the games, Williams had plenty of practice making grand, instantly memorable tunes for films like Star Wars, Superman and Indiana Jones.
I’ve written up the first, and most recognizable, part of the tune. The trickiest part is the triplet notes. I started out trying a few triplet strums while blocking the other strings but couldn’t get it to work. I ended up picking with my index, middle and ring fingers in succession.
I was going to record an mp3 of this, but I’m far too busy watching the batmitten, so you’ll have to put up with a midi.
Star Wars Theme (Dodge Brothers Version)
August 3, 2008
Dodge Brothers – Star Wars Theme (Tab and Chords)
Watch the video here.
For his review of the new Star Wars film, BBC film critic, Mark Kermode has forgone the raised eye brows and in-depth analysis in favour of playing the theme tune on the ukulele with his skiffle band The Dodge Brothers.
He inspired me to tab out a ukulele duet of their version. It looks like he’s in D tuning, but I’ve written it up in C. This version differs significantly from the original, so I’ll probably do a full uke version at some point in the future.
You can also watch Mark on his uke here.
Neil Armstrong, ukebucket and other Ukulinklinks
August 1, 2008
Herald Tribune interviews the guy who took the infamous picture of Neil Armstrong strumming his ukulele on return from the moon.
ukebucket have just released two albums: one of originals, Bad Ukulele, and one of covers, Covered. You can download the covers album for free here. And buy the originals album, and I can tell you it’s worth it, here (although if you’re stuck in the 1920s and want a rotating disc, you’ll have to wait a while).
The LA Times comes out in defence of ukuleles.
17 Dots (the blog of eMusic) has a series on the ukulele.
Todd the Ukulele Evangalist sings of life as a Ukaholic (MP3 link).
Tab for the X Files theme on Des Cordes er Dubois.
The Curtis Covers Project is a kind of karaoke request blog. People suggest a song for him to cover and he posts his version – often played on ukulele. My personal favourite is Jet’s Are You Gonna Be My Girl.
Blogotheque’s Take Home Shows is an idea too good not to steal. The latest imitator, Shoot the Player, has some fine ukulele videos from Via Tania here and here. But my favourite is Laura Jean’s So Happy It Hurts.
Eddie Vedder discusses the uke’s size to melody ratio.
Fawlty Towers and Dream a Little Dream on Uker Tabs.
